US7476186B1 - Exercise apparatus with platform adjustment mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

Exercise apparatus for resistance training includes an adjustment mechanism raising and lowering a platform, e.g. a stand-upon platform supporting the feet of the user. The adjustment mechanism both: a) journals the platform to pivot about a pivot axis parallel to a first lateral axis into and out of engagement with a detent lock; and b) linearly guides translational up and down movement of the platform and prevents side to side canting of the platform about a second lateral axis.

Description

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

The invention relates to exercise apparatus for resistance training.

Various types of exercise apparatus for resistance training include a platform supporting the user, e.g. a stand-upon platform supporting the feet of the user, for a hip flexor or hip glute machine, and so on. The platform is adjustable up and down, to accommodate different height users. One known type of platform adjustment mechanism uses a peg-in-hole type lock.

The present system provides a simple and effective platform adjustment mechanism for resistance training exercise apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of exercise apparatus for resistance training in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a portion ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is likeFIG. 3 and shows an alternate position of the platform.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the structure ofFIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line6-6 ofFIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is likeFIG. 5 and illustrates operation of the platform during a height change.

FIG. 8 is likeFIG. 7 and shows completion of a height adjustment to a new vertical elevation.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a portion ofFIG. 3, and shows a further embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 showsexercise apparatus20 for resistance training, including aframe22 resting on afloor24 and supporting a laterally extendingplatform26 at a plurality of vertical elevations, to be described.Platform26 supports and locates a user for resistance training, e.g. a hip flexor or hip glute routine wherein the user extends one leg overpad28, while holding ontohandlebar30 and/or32, and swings leg/knee pad28 in an arc to rotatepulley34 to in turn lift one or more weights in weight stack36 (partially hidden by shield plate38) viapulley cable system40, all as is known.Platform26 supports and locates the user for such resistance training, e.g. supporting one leg and foot of the user, while the other leg is extended over and partially aroundpad28.

Platform26,FIGS. 1-3, has distally opposite first andsecond sides50 and52 laterally spaced along a firstlateral axis54. The platform has distally opposite third andfourth sides56 and58 laterally spaced along a secondlateral axis60.Lateral axes54 and60 are normal to each other. Anadjustment mechanism62 is provided for raising and loweringplatform26 to a plurality of vertical elevations. The adjustment mechanism both: a)journals platform26 to pivot about apivot axis64 parallel to firstlateral axis54 into and out of engagement with adetent lock66, to be described, such thatplatform26 is locked in place at a given vertical elevation when pivoted into engagement with the detent lock, and the platform may move up and down when pivoted out of engagement with the detent lock; and b) linearly guides translational movement ofplatform26 during the noted up and down movement of the platform and prevents side to side canting of the platform about secondlateral axis60 during the noted up and down movement of the platform and preventing misalignment of first andsecond sides50 and52 of the platform.

Adjustment mechanism62 includes first andsecond stanchions68 and70 extending upwardly fromframe22. Each stanchion has arespective track72 and74 extending upwardly and downwardly therealong, and arespective tooth rack76 and78 extending upwardly and downwardly therealong.Platform26 includes afloorboard80 mounted bybolts82 to acarriage84 having first and second bearingblocks86 and88 pivotable about and translational alongrespective stanchions68 and70. Toothracks76,78 provide the noted detent lock, to be further described.

First bearingblock86 has a horizontal firstmain shaft90,FIGS. 2,3, translational alongtrack72 ofstanchion68,FIGS. 5-8, and moving upwardly and downwardly therealong during up and down movement ofplatform26. Second bearingblock88 has a horizontal secondmain shaft92 translational alongtrack74 ofstanchion70 and moving upwardly and downwardly therealong during up and down movement ofplatform26. Horizontal first and secondmain shafts90 and92 are coaxial.Platform26 is pivoted between a first locked position,FIGS. 1,3-6,8, and a second unlocked position,FIG. 7, by swinging the notedthird side56 ofplatform26 upwardly and downwardly,FIGS. 7,8, topivot platform26 about the coaxial horizontalmain shafts90 and92. First bearingblock86 has a horizontal firstauxiliary shaft94,FIGS. 2,3, engaging a givenfirst tooth96 intooth rack76 ofstanchion68 in the noted first pivoted locked position ofplatform26 to lock the platform at a given one of the noted vertical elevations corresponding totooth96. Horizontal firstauxiliary shaft94 disengagestooth rack76 ofstanchion68 in the noted second pivoted unlocked position ofplatform26 to, unlock the platform and permit upward and downward movement thereof,FIG. 7. Second bearingblock88 has a horizontal secondauxiliary shaft98,FIGS. 2,3, engaging a givensecond tooth100 intooth rack78 ofstanchion70, corresponding totooth96, in the noted first pivoted locked position ofplatform26 to lock the platform at the noted given one of the vertical elevations corresponding toteeth100 and96. Horizontal secondauxiliary shaft98 disengagestooth rack78 in the noted second pivoted unlocked position ofplatform26,FIG. 7, to unlock the platform and permit upward and downward movement thereof. Horizontal first and secondmain shafts90 and92 engagetracks72 and74 of first andsecond stanchions68 and70, respectively, at each of the vertical elevations along the stanchions at respective vertically spaced teeth of the respective tooth racks, and during at least a portion of travel of the platform during the up and down movement thereof.

Adjustment mechanism66 further includes first andsecond guide rods102 and104,FIGS. 1-3, extending upwardly fromframe22 adjacent first andsecond stanchions68 and70, respectively. The adjustment mechanism further includes first and secondlinear bearing assemblies106 and108 slidable upwardly and downwardly along respective first andsecond guide rods102 and104 and operatively connected to respective first and second bearingblocks86 and88 to guide translational up and down movement of first and second bearingblocks86 and88 and prevent canting ofplatform26 about the noted secondlateral axis60. First and secondlinear bearing assemblies106 and108 have respective first and second bearingsub-blocks110 and112 laterally adjacent respective first andsecond stanchions68 and70. Horizontal firstmain shaft90 has afirst end114 mounted to first bearingblock86, and has asecond end116 mounted to first bearingsub-block110. Horizontal secondmain shaft92 has afirst end118 mounted to second bearingblock88, and has a second end120 mounted to second bearingsub-block112.First stanchion68 is disposed laterally between first bearingblock86 and first bearingsub-block110.Second stanchion70 is disposed laterally between second bearingblock88 and second bearingsub-block112.Guide rods102 and104 extend upwardly to upper ends which are mounted to supportarms103 and105 of the frame to rigidly locate andanchor guide rods102 and104. Supportarms103 and105 extend upwardly from the frame and then curve laterally and are bolted torespective stanchions68 and70 atrespective bolts107 and109.

First stanchion68 has afirst slot122 formed laterally therethrough, which slot is elongated upwardly and downwardly alongfirst stanchion68 and has opposing elongatedinner sides124 and126 facing each other across such slot.Inner side124 provides thenoted track72 offirst stanchion68, andinner side126 provides the notedtooth rack76 offirst stanchion68. Horizontal firstmain shaft90 extends laterally throughfirst slot122.Second stanchion70 has asecond slot128 formed laterally therethrough, which slot is elongated upwardly and downwardly alongsecond stanchion70 and has opposing elongatedinner sides130 and132 facing each other acrossslot128.Inner side130 ofsecond slot128 provides thenoted track74 ofsecond stanchion70, andinner side132 ofsecond slot128 provides the notedtooth rack78 ofsecond stanchion70. Horizontal secondmain shaft92 extends laterally throughsecond slot128.

In the disclosed embodiment,platform26 is a stand-upon platform supporting the feet of the user, though other types of support platforms may be used.Platform26 is a cantilever having a root end atfourth side58, and a free end atthird side56. The user grips the platform at third andfourth sides56 and58, and then tiltsthird side56 upwardly, as shown atarrow134 inFIG. 7, to moveauxiliary shafts94 and98 out of engagement with respective teeth, as shown atarrow136, and then the platform is translated upwardly as guided by linear bearingassemblies106 and108 alongguide rods102 and104, as shown atarrow138 inFIG. 8, whereafterthird side56 of the platform is tilted downwardly to in turn moveauxiliary shafts94 and98 into engagement with respective teeth of respective tooth racks, as shown atarrow140 inFIG. 8.

In a further and preferred embodiment,FIG. 9, horizontalauxiliary shaft98 ofFIG. 3 includes acam follower142 journaled thereto. Horizontal firstauxiliary shaft98 engagestooth rack78 and its teeth ofstanchion70 atcam follower142. Horizontalauxiliary shaft94 also includes a cam follower as shown in dashed line at144 inFIG. 3, journaled thereto, and horizontalauxiliary shaft94 engagestooth rack76 and its teeth ofstanchion68 atcam follower144. The cam followers may be desirable to reduce the chance of a “false lock” and to make adjustment easier. False lock could possibly occur if a shaft such as98 catches on the point of the tooth increment, e.g.146, instead of settling into a tooth or concavity such as148. This causesplatform26 to be at rest at an angle, and in a position that can be easily bumped, causing the platform to release and fall. Furthermore, when a userlifts platform side56,shafts98 and94 may contact the respectiveinner sides130 and124 ofslots128 and122 oftracks74 and72, which contact ofshafts98 and94 againstsides130 and124 can result in excessive friction, making the platform harder to lift. The addition of thecam followers142 and144 on the outer ends of the shafts eliminate these potential problems, and provide easier adjustment.Tooth racks78 and76 are modified to fit the diameter of therespective cam follower142 and144 which is larger than the diameter of therespective shaft98 and94. Whenside56 of the platform is lifted,cam followers142 and144 can come into contact withinner sides130 and124 of the respective slots and roll therealong, resulting in easier raising and lowering of the platform. The teeth oftooth racks78 and76 may thus be engaged directly byrespective shafts98 and94 as inFIGS. 1-8, or may be engaged throughrespective cam followers142 and144 as inFIG. 9.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. The different configurations, systems, and method steps described herein may be used alone or in combination with other configurations, systems and method steps. It is to be expected that various equivalents, alternatives and modifications are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (5)

1. Exercise apparatus for resistance training comprising a frame adjustably supporting a laterally extending platform at a plurality of vertical elevations, said platform supporting and locating a user for said resistance training, said platform having distally opposite first and second sides laterally spaced along a first lateral axis, said platform having distally opposite third and fourth sides laterally spaced along a second lateral axis, said first and second lateral axes being normal to each other, an adjustment mechanism raising and lowering said platform to said plurality of vertical elevations, said adjustment mechanism both:

a) journaling said platform to pivot about a pivot axis parallel to said first lateral axis into and out of engagement with a detent lock, such that said platform is locked in place at a given vertical elevation when pivoted into engagement with said detent lock, and said platform may move up and down when pivoted out of engagement with said detent lock; and

b) linearly guiding translational movement of said platform during said up and down movement of said platform and preventing side to side canting of said platform about said second lateral axis during said up and down movement of said platform and preventing misalignment of said first and second sides of said platform,

wherein:

said adjustment mechanism comprises first and second stanchions extending upwardly from said frame, each stanchion having a track extending upwardly and downwardly therealong and a tooth rack extending upwardly and downwardly therealong, and said platform has first and second bearing blocks pivotable about and translational along said stanchions;

said adjustment mechanism further comprises first and second guide rods extending upwardly from said frame adjacent said first and second stanchions, respectively, and first and second linear bearing assemblies slidable upwardly and downwardly along respective said first and second guide rods and operatively connected to respective said first and second bearing blocks to guide translational up and down movement of said first and second bearing blocks and prevent said canting of said platform about said second lateral axis;

said first bearing block has a horizontal first main shaft translational along said track of said first stanchion and moving upwardly and downwardly therealong during said up and down movement of said platform;

said second bearing block has a horizontal second main shaft translational along said track of said second stanchion and moving upwardly and downwardly therealong during said up and down movement of said platform;

said horizontal first and second main shafts are coaxial;

said platform is pivoted between first and second locked and unlocked positions by swinging said third side of said platform upwardly and downwardly to pivot said platform about said coaxial horizontal first and second main shafts;

said first bearing block has a horizontal first auxiliary shaft engaging a given first tooth in said tooth rack of said first stanchion in said first pivoted position of said platform to lock said platform at a given one of said vertical elevations corresponding to said given first tooth, said horizontal first auxiliary shaft disengaging said tooth rack of said first stanchion in said second pivoted position of said platform to unlock said platform and permit upward and downward movement thereof;

said second bearing block has a horizontal second auxiliary shaft engaging a given second tooth in said tooth rack of said second stanchion, corresponding to said given first tooth, in said first pivoted position of said platform to lock said platform at said given one of said vertical elevations corresponding to said given second tooth and said given first tooth, said horizontal second auxiliary shaft disengaging said tooth rack in said second pivoted position of said platform to unlock said platform and permit upward and downward movement thereof;

said first linear bearing assembly has a first bearing sub-block laterally adjacent said first stanchion;

said horizontal first main shaft has a first end mounted to said first bearing block, and has a second end mounted to said first bearing sub-block;

said first stanchion is disposed laterally between said first bearing block and said first bearing sub-block;

said second linear bearing assembly has a second bearing sub-block laterally adjacent said second stanchion;

said horizontal second main shaft has a first end mounted to said second bearing block, and has a second end mounted to said second bearing sub-block;

said second stanchion is disposed laterally between said second bearing block and said second bearing sub-block.

2. The exercise apparatus according toclaim 1 wherein:

said first stanchion has a first slot formed laterally therethrough, said first slot being elongated upwardly and downwardly along said first stanchion and having opposing elongated inner sides facing each other across said first slot, one of said inner sides providing said track of said first stanchion, the other of said inner sides providing said tooth rack of said first stanchion;

said horizontal first main shaft extends laterally through said first slot;

said second stanchion has a second slot formed laterally therethrough, said second slot being elongated upwardly and downwardly along said second stanchion and having opposing elongated inner sides facing each other across said second slot, one of said inner sides of said second slot providing said track of said second stanchion, the other of said inner sides of said second slot providing said tooth rack of said second stanchion;

said horizontal second main shaft extends laterally through said second slot.

3. The exercise apparatus according toclaim 1 wherein:

said horizontal first auxiliary shaft includes a first cam follower journaled thereto, and wherein said horizontal first auxiliary shaft engages said tooth rack of said first stanchion at said first cam follower;

said horizontal second auxiliary shaft includes a second cam follower journaled thereto, and wherein said horizontal second auxiliary shaft engages said tooth rack of said second stanchion at said second cam follower.

4. The exercise apparatus according toclaim 1 wherein said platform is a stand-upon platform supporting the feet of the user.

5. The exercise apparatus according toclaim 1 wherein said platform is a cantilever having a root end at said fourth side, and a free end at said third side.

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